Riverside Stamps

Return to Home Page or Altered and Faked stamps Index Page

To Contact Riverside

The contents of this website is copyright protected.
I will allow free use of the images and content - all I ask is that permission be asked and credit given for the copied data.

Any suggestions for additions or changes are always welcome.



Suspect Scott #445 Unused MNH Single (12/13/15).

This coil, often faked, can be made by trimming the perforations off at the top and/or bottom of a fully perforate #426 or adding fake perforations as well as faking a single line watermark to a trimmed unwatermarked imperforate #483. The best fakes are made using the fully perforated #426 especially if the top or bottom is a natural straight edge with a large margin. Fakes made from the #483 will be correct in height (25mm) and will more than likely be very well centered but lack the watermark. Catalog value for a used single is a modest $250.00.

The suspect is single line watermarked showing a “U” at the bottom that is inverted and reading horizontal. This eliminate the possibility the suspect is a #483

The suspect’s perforations do not match known genuine #425 perforations (gauge 10).

But the suspect’s perforations do match known genuine #411 perforations (gauge 8.5).

The fact that the suspect is a perf 8.5 single line watermark issue means that it must be a #394.

The Experts Book states that the #394 can only be faked from unwatermarked #483 and #484 issues by adding fake watermarks as there is no single line watermarked imperforate stock from which perforations can be added to fake a #394.

Conclusion: In my opinion the suspect is a genuine Scott #394, unused, original gum, never hinged.

Reference material used:

  • The Expert's Book. A practical guide to the authentication of United States stamps. By Paul W. Schmid.

As always comments and suggestions are always welcome.

To Contact Riverside

To Contact Riverside Stamps:
Email:
Mike Girard - Owner / Operator / Web Master: g1rardmn1099@comcast.net


I am a member of the American Philatelic Society

Member of APS
APS #: 205494
Visit the American Philatelic Society
Website at www.stamps.org

I am a member of the United States Stamp Society

Member of the USSS
USSS #: 16733
Visit the United States Stamp Society
Website at www.usstamps.org

I am a member of the Perfins Club


Perfins Club #: 4266
Visit The Perfins Club
Website at https://www.perfins.org/